PERC 2020 Abstract Detail Page
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| Abstract Title: | Physics GRE Requirements Create Uneven Playing Field for Graduate Applicants |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | The use of the Physics GRE in graduate admissions has gained considerable attention in recent years. While studies have shown the problematic nature of the exam quantitatively, it is time that student experiences were also included in the discussion. We interviewed 69 current graduate physics and astronomy students about their process of deciding where to apply to graduate school. Physics GRE requirements played a substantial role in this decision, with 48 students mentioning the test as part of their process to narrow programs down to a personalized short-list. Potential barriers (e.g., financial and travel) that affected some students, but not others, create an unequal playing field for grad school applicants. These results suggest that graduate programs requiring the Physics GRE are doing more than asking prospective graduate students to simply take a physics test, and may be inadvertently disadvantaging the very students that they are trying to recruit. |
| Abstract Type: | Contributed Poster Presentation |
| Session Time: | Poster Session III |
| Poster Number: | 3.A5 |
| Contributed Paper Record: | Contributed Paper Information |
| Contributed Paper Download: | Download Contributed Paper |
Author/Organizer Information | |
| Primary Contact: |
Lindsay M. Owens Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY 14563 Phone: 513 910 6797 |
| Co-Author(s) and Co-Presenter(s) |
Benjamin M. Zwickl, Rochester Institute of Technology Scott V. Franklin, Rochester Institute of Technology Casey W. Miller, Rochester Institute of Technology |
